Foldable cover structure for motorcycle

ABSTRACT

A protective cover for a two-wheeled cycle having a pair of handlebars includes a pair of flexible panels which surround and overlie the cycle. An opening in one of the panels receives the handlebars, and a third flexible panel closes this opening. The third panel has first and second sections which present slits for receiving the individual bars of the pair of handlebars, and means on each section is provided for securing each section in close surrounding relationship to a respective handlebar. A plurality of fasteners around the periphery of the third panel secure the latter to the first and second panels and additional fasteners are provided at the front and rear of the cycle for securing the vertical side portions of that panel which surrounds the cycle.

United States Patent [151 3,659,872 Warner 5] May 2, 1972 54] FOLDABLECOVER STRUCTURE FOR 635,334 9/1934 Germany ..296/78.l

MOTORCYCLE Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. Betts Attorney-Schmidt, Johnson,I-Iovey & Williams [5 7] ABSTRACT A protective cover for a two-wheeledcycle having a pair of handlebars includes a pair of flexible panelswhich surround and overlie the cycle. An opening in one of the panelsreceives the handlebars, and a third flexible panel closes this opening.The third panel has first and second sections which present slits forreceiving the individual bars of the pair of handlebars, and means oneach section is provided for securing each section in close surroundingrelationship to a respective handlebar. A plurality of fasteners aroundthe periphery of the third panel secure the latter to the first andsecond panels and additional fasteners are provided at the front andrear of the cycle for securing the vertical side portions of that panelwhich surrounds the cycle 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures FOLDABLE COVERSTRUCTURE FOR MOTORCYCLE This invention relates to protective covers forvehicles and, more particularly, to a cover for a cycle such as atwo-wheeled motorbike.

Bicycles and tricycles are conventionally constructed with a pair ofhandlebars which project upwardly from the front wheel and thenlaterally toward the operator's seat for steering of the vehicle. Thisconstruction has heretofore presented problems in providing protectivecovers for such a vehicle in that a cover which is supported by thehandlebars is susceptable to damage from the relatively sharp handlebarprojections and, in any event, is subject to wear at the points ofcontact with the handlebars.

Covers which do not overlie the handle bars have heretofore not providedthe desirable protection for the cycle. Adequate coverage and protectionis essential when the cycle is motorized in order to protect the engineand other parts which are subject to damage from dirt and moisture.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide aprotective cover for a cycle which is not supported by the handlebarsand, therefore, avoids points of stress and wear on the cover but whichsurrounds the handlebars in sufficiently close relationship to precludethe entrance of moisture underneath the cover.

Another object of the invention is a cycle cover which closely fits thevehicle being protected yet which is easily secured or detached from thevehicle.

A further object of the invention is a cycle cover which can be easilyconstructed from a flexible material and which will, therefore, conformto the configuration of a cycle being covered, thus assuring proper fitand facilitating protection from moisture, wind and dirt.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cycle with the protective cover inplace;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view illustrating how the three flexible panels ofthe protective cover cooperate to fully enclose the cycle; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, end perspective view illustrating the fasteningmeans for securing the two operating portions of one of the panels.

Referring initially to FIGS. 2 and 3, it is seen that the protectivecover for a cycle such as a two-wheeled motorbike 12 having a pair ofhandlebars l3 projecting upwardly from its front wheel, includes a firstpanel of flexible material comprised of a first panel portion 14 and asecond panel portion 16, which portions are releasably secured one tothe other by a plurality of fasteners 18 disposed at each end of thecycle 12.

While the first panel of flexible material completely surrounds thecycle 12, a second panel 20 of flexible material is disposed inoverlying relationship to the cycle 12 and is secured to the respectiveportions 14 and 16 of the first flexible panel. As is best illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2, the second flexible panel 20 also extends in partialsurrounding relationship to the uppermost portion of the cycle forpurposes to be made clear hereinafter.

The first flexible panel has an opening 22 therein for the handlebars13. This opening 22 is closed by a third panel 24 of flexible material.The third panel 24 has first and second sections 26 and 28 which presentslits 30 and 32 for receiving the individual handlebars 13. A pair ofsnaps 34 and 36 provide means for securing each of the sections 26 and28 in close surrounding relationship to their respective handlebars 13.Finally, a plurality of fasteners 38 having complemental componentsdisposed around the periphery of the opening 22 and around the peripheryof the third panel 24 provide means for securing the latter to the firstand second portions 14 and 16 of the first panel and the second flexiblepanel 20.

When the protective cover 10 is disposed over the cycle 12 in the mannerillustrated in the drawing, it will be appreciated that the cycle iswell protected even though the handlebars 13 project out from under thecover. While the construction of the cover l0 with two panel portions 14and 16 surrounding the cycle, which portions are secured by thefasteners 18, substantially precludes the entrance of moisture beneaththe cover, it is preferable to include the third flexible panel 14 toclose the opening 22. This third panel 24 is quickly and easily securedto the portions 14 and 16 as well as the second panel 20 by insertingthe handlebars 13 into the respective slits 30 and 32, then securing thesnaps 34 and 36 after which the fasteners 38 may likewise be secured.

The provision of fasteners 18 at both the front and rear of the cycle 12permits the quick removal or securing of the panel portions 14 and 16,and the flexibility of these panel portions allows them to conform tothe configuration of the cycle thus assuring a proper fit, while alsofacilitating proper protection from wind, moisture and dirt. Byconstructing the flexible panel 20 so as to partially surround the upperportion of the cycle, the seam or line of juncture between the first andsecond flexible panels is disposed in a substantially vertical planethereby precluding moisture from collecting at this point and possiblyleaking through to the cycle 12 beneath the cover 10.

Another advantage of the cycle cover 10 is that as a result of itsconstruction from a flexible material, it can be readily folded into asmall package which is easily accommodated in the saddlebags commonlyfound on a motorbike such as 12, or simply placed upon the seat of thecycle and secured by a fastening band.

While in the cycle 12 a fork element supports the bandlebars l3 andextends upwardly uninterrupted from the front wheel to the individualbars, it will be appreciated that the invention is also applicable to acycle wherein the handlebars l3 converge into a single steering supportwhich, in turn, is held by a fork element. Thus the term pair ofhandlebars" as used throughout this application is meant to include thelatter-mentioned construction.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A protective cover for a cycle having a pair of handlebars, saidcover comprising:

a first panel of flexible material for disposition in surroundingrelationship to the cycle,

said first panel comprising first and second panel portions and meansfor releasably securing one of said portions to the other of saidportions,

said first panel having an opening therein for said han dlebar;

a second panel of flexible material for disposition in overlyingrelationship to said cycle and secured to said first panel;

a third panel of flexible material for closing said opening in saidfirst panel,

said third panel having first and second sections presenting slits forreceiving the individual bars of said pair of handlebars;

means for securing each of said first and second sections in closesurrounding relationship to a respective handlebar; and

means for securing said third panel to each of said first panel and saidsecond panels.

2. A protective cover as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second panelextends into partial surrounding relationship to the cycle.

3. A protective cover as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means forsecuring said first and second panel portions includes a plurality offasteners disposed at each end of the cycle.

4. A protective cover as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means forsecuring said third panel to each of said first and second panelscomprises a plurality of fasteners having complemental componentsdisposed around the periphery of said opening in the first panel andaround the periphery of said third panel.

1. A protective cover for a cycle having a pair of handlebars, saidcover comprising: a first panel of flexible material for disposition insurrounding relationship to the cycle, said first panel comprising firstand second panel portions and means for releasably securing one of saidportions to the other of said portions, said first panel having anopening therein for said handlebar; a second panel of flexible materialfor disposition in overlying relationship to said cycle and secured tosaid first panel; a third panel of flexible material for closing saidopening in said first panel, said third panel having first and secondsections presenting slits for receiving the individual bars of said pairof handlebars; means for securing each of said first and second sectionsin close surrounding relationship to a respective handlebar; and meansfor securing said third panel to each of said first panel and saidsecond panels.
 2. A protective cover as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid second panel extends into partial surrounding relationship to thecycle.
 3. A protective cover as set forth in claim 2, wherein said meansfor securing said first and second panel portions includes a pluralityof fasteners disposed at each end of the cycle.
 4. A protective cover asset forth in claim 3, wherein said means for securing said third panelto each of said first and second panels comprises a plurality offasteners having complemental components disposed around the peripheryof said opening in the first panel and around the periphery of saidthird panel.